Chapter 3

The next day early in the morning, Ding Sha went to the market to carefully select and buy two pigs' trotters.

She didn't know if it was because she was pregnant, but Ding Sha suddenly started having cravings, able to think of seven or eight different things she wanted to eat in a day.

She used hot water to scald off the remaining hairs on the pig's trotters, then rinsed them with running water.

She rummaged through boxes and cabinets to find some rock sugar to stir fry until it was colored, then added water, seasonings, soy sauce, boiled it on high heat, then turned down the heat to stew slowly.

When it was nearly cooked soft, she added a basinful of soybeans she had soaked overnight, and continued stewing over low heat.

There were still some vegetables left over from yesterday that hadn't been used up completely, so Ding Sha simply prepared the exact same vegetable dishes today.

She just added an extra layer of stewed meaty-flavored soybeans on top of the rice.

Only after everything was plated did she put the remaining vegetables on a dish to eat up. The pig trotters were stewed soft and flavorful, with a thick savory sauce, a perfect combination of salty and sweet.

As soon as it entered the mouth it melted away, making it impossible to discern whether it was the trembling pig skin or the fatty meat.

After eating her fill at the satisfying meal, Ding Sha then rode her electric bike to the construction site.

Quite a few people were already waiting there.

Some had even brought their own small carts and were waiting.

As soon as Ding Sha had just parked her bike stably they swarmed over, voices ringing out saying "I want one."

Ding Sha didn't get flustered at all, she just opened the box, scanned a code and gave out portions. It was only chaotic for a few minutes before the people behind automatically lined up.

The fifty boxed lunches were quickly sold out.

A group of brawny men sat in rows squatting next to Ding Sha, heads lowered as they ate with gusto, making occasional passersby feel it was quite a funny sight.

The burly man ate with oil dripping down his mouth. "Too delicious, too delicious! Will you make this again tomorrow?"

Ding Sha shook her head. "I'll make something different tomorrow."

The vegetables and rice at home were used up, so in a bit she had to go lug back a bag of rice. Tomorrow morning she still had to go buy vegetables.

The brawny man dug into the soybeans. "These beans are fragrant."

He smacked his lips. "They have a meaty flavor, did you stew them with meat?"

Ding Sha nodded. "I stewed them with pigs' trotters, but pigs' trotters are too expensive, I can't afford the cost."

The brawny man waved his hand unconcernedly. "That stuff is fragrant for sure, but nothing beats big slices of meat.

Ding Sha smiled. She thought for a moment and said, "Then I'll make braised pork rice tomorrow, with stewed five-spice pork belly, it's super fragrant."

When the brawny man heard this, he wiped his mouth and chuckled twice. "Good, good! Let's eat pork belly!" Ding Sha bought rice and went home. Seeing the unpolished rice was pretty good quality, she stir-fried some ginger rice tea to store for drinking.

Granny Zhang came over holding a small bowl of free-range eggs. "Girl, what have you been busy with recently? I came over a few times and saw the door locked."

Ding Sha brewed a cup of ginger rice tea for her. "I haven't been busy, just made some boxed lunches to go sell at the construction site."

Granny Zhang exclaimed, and said worriedly, "Don't overexert yourself, how have you been feeling recently? Do you feel weighed down?"

Ding Sha shook her head. "I haven't felt anything really, not tired at all. Just sometimes I crave sour foods."

"Craving sour means a boy, you have a little master in your belly!" Granny Zhang said with a laugh.

A little master is good, he can grow up to provide for his mother, so this girl can suffer a bit less.

Of course Ding Sha knew there was a son in her belly.

Not only a son, but a male lead at that.

It's just that his luck wasn't good.

Born an orphan eating meals from a hundred families, bullied at school, and having his love stolen by a villain.

Tragic beyond measure.

"I brought you some eggs, eggs from my own chickens. They're free-range and nutritious, eating them will be good for your health." Granny Zhang put the eggs on the table.

"Thank you Granny Zhang." Ding Sha gratefully accepted them. She had seen the expensive prices of free-range eggs at the market that morning.

"No need to thank me..."

"Is anyone home?" Granny Zhang's voice was interrupted by someone shouting and knocking on the door.

Ding Sha was startled for a moment before standing up to open the door. "Someone's here, who are you looking for?"

Opening the door she saw it was the village courier. Since the village mostly had elders, women and children staying during the day, they had set up a courier to help deliver things and letters.

"Are you Ding Sha?" The courier looked to be in his twenties. When he looked at her exquisite and delicate face holding the letter, his eyes were full of amazement.

"I am." Ding Sha nodded in confusion.

"Your letter." The courier handed it to her. His expression seemed to want to say more, as if he still wanted to chat with her.

Ding Sha accepted the letter blankly. She thanked him, then immediately closed the door.

The courier scratched his head and left.

Ding Sha looked at the handwriting on the envelope, somewhat stunned. Granny Zhang saw her silent and unmoving for a long time, and asked worriedly, "What's wrong girl?"

Ding Sha shook her head, not speaking.

Granny Zhang stood up to take her leave. "I still have eggs steaming at home, I'll go back first. Let me know if you need anything."

Ding Sha smiled and nodded, seeing her to the door before sitting back down on the small stool, taking out the letter again to stare blankly.

The sender written on the envelope was Nanjiang No. 1 Prison.

She hesitated for a moment before opening the envelope to read the letter.

"Sha Sha, how have you been recently? I miss you very much, I miss our little courtyard.

I'm sorry, I've let you down. But will you wait for me? I will definitely give you a good life!

I haven't built a swing for you yet, I haven't planted the grapes you wanted yet either, I haven't planted vegetables in the open space behind the yard yet, and I haven't made up for the wedding you wanted yet. Can you come see me? I really miss you."

It was signed Xiao Jun.

Ding Sha read through the entire letter two more times.

Finally she sighed while staring at the name Xiao Jun.

If nothing unexpected happened, this should be the unfortunate child's father.

She sat in the small courtyard in a daze, her mind still a complete blank without any memories.

Should she go see him?

Ding Sha hesitated for a moment.

Standing at the entrance of Nanjiang No. 1 Prison, Ding Sha felt somewhat apprehensive. She unconsciously touched her belly, as if she could really feel a small life pulsing there.

"Miss, can I help you with something?" The middle-aged uncle in the guardhouse saw her lingering hesitantly outside for a long time, afraid she was too scared to speak up, so he took the initiative to ask.

"Sir...I, I'm here to visit..." Ding Sha quickly replied.

"Visiting, ah," the middle-aged uncle was used to it and pointed her down a small path to the side. "You have to go that way, there's a door in the back. Go in and fill out paperwork, once approved you can visit."

"Oh...thank you, sir," Ding Sha hadn't expected there was an application process. She thanked him and hurriedly went that way.

Sure enough she saw a small door.

She knocked and heard someone call out "Come in."

She went inside. "Hello, I'd like to apply for a visit."

The young police officer looked at her in surprise for a moment. "Oh...then please fill out this form first."

He handed her a stack of papers and a pen.

Ding Sha took the papers to a seat in the corner and quietly started filling it out.

The young officer looked at her delicate and beautiful face, and couldn't help feeling it was a pity.

He wondered who she was here to see...

Just as he was thinking this, Ding Sha finished the form and came over. "I'm done, is this okay?"

She seemed somewhat uneasy.

The young officer poured her a cup of water and gently said, "Don't be afraid, have some water first."

After that he picked up the paperwork and went back to his computer.

His expression was somewhat strangely complicated. "You're here to visit Xiao Jun?"

"Mm." Ding Sha didn't know why he asked this way, she could only nod.

"You're his wife?" The young officer asked again.

Ding Sha lowered her head and murmured yes. "We agreed to register once we were of age."

The pitiful look in the young officer's eyes made her nervous heart tighten.

What was going on?